MUSCAT: The National Multi-Hazard Early Earning Centre of Civil Aviation Authority has issued a warning that heavy rains are expected in many governorates of the Sultanate of Oman on Sunday and Monday, as rains are already reported in Jaalan in South Al Sharqiyah on Saturday evening.
The Civil Aviation Authority issued the first warning of heavy thunderstorms in the governorates of Musandam, North Al Batinah, Al Buraimi, Al Dhahirah, South Al Batinah, Muscat and Al Dakhiliyah on Sunday and Monday.
It stated that the rains will be accompanied by active winds and hailstones, ranging between 30-60 mm, and will lead to the flow of wadis with active downward winds blowing at speeds ranging between 15-35 knots, and the height of sea waves along the coasts of Musandam Governorate and the Sea of Oman will range between 1.5-3 metres.
The Civil Aviation Authority has called on citizens and residents to exercise caution during thunderstorms, not to cross wadis, avoid low-lying places, and not to go to the sea during the warning period.
The authority said that it is possible that the effects of the depression will begin on Sunday morning, with cloud formation, accompanied by scattered thunderstorms, and heavy rains till Monday evening.
Heavy rains accompanied by hailstones ranging between (30-60 mm) can lead to a flow of wadis, while active downward winds, speeds ranging between 15-35 knots (28-64 km/h) are expected.
The intensity of the weather system is expected to peak on Monday with thunderstorms and heavy to very heavy rainfall (30-100 mm) associated with downdraft winds and hail.
The weather system is anticipated to gradually weaken from Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile there are also chances of rising dust causing decreased horizontal visibility over Al Wusta and Dhofar governorates on Sunday due to the activity of south-easterly winds.
GUIDELINES
Schools have been urged to take necessary precautions, which include isolating information and communication technology systems and ensuring that they are protected from expected risks, ensuring that devices are at a high and safer level in case of high water levels, taking backup copies of systems and databases, and keeping them in safe places, closing data centre devices in governorates where heavy rains are expected.
Schools should monitor weather forecast and updates to ensure that necessary security precautions are taken.
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